New Westminster took a turn with one of the bigger boys and came away with its first loss of the B.C. Junior Lacrosse League season.
The Salmonbellies failed to find the firepower as just three players found the back of the net following a 12-6 loss to the Delta Islanders in Ladner on Saturday.
Delta enjoyed the return of Eli McLaughlin, who patched up his team’s two-game losing skid with three goals and two assists.
Chase Fraser made his Islanders’ junior A debut a special one, firing 14 shots on goal and topping all scorers with four goals and a single helper.
Delta’s attack came in waves and at equal strength.
The Islanders took a 3-2 first-period lead on three late goals in the span of less than a minute and a half.
In the middle period, Delta went on a similar streak, scoring four times in less than two minutes to up the lead to 10-5.
Rookie Islanders’ keeper Ryland Hood had arguably his best outing this season, stopping 33 Salmonbellie shots, while blanking the visitors in the final period.
Ross Bowman was the victim in goal, taking his first loss of the season, allowing 10 goals while stopping 32 shots on goal.
New West’s Connor Robinson, who still leads the junior A loop with 36 total points, led the junior ’Bellies in scoring with his third hat trick this season.
Jeremy Bosher, with a goal and three assists, and Johnny Pearson, with a pair of markers, were the other New West scorers.
Adam Dickson also chipped in with four helpers.
New Westminster took on the 2-4 Burnaby Lakers at Queen’s Park Arena on Tuesday (after Record deadlines). The Salmonbellies are off for a full week before returning home for a matchup with the first-place leader Coquitlam Adanacs.
Game time is 8 p.m.
